Apparatus for generating electricity.



E. (L BRIGE & RQ N. HUDSON. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY. APPLICATION runnmmzs, 191'0'.

Patented Apr. 18 1911.

'5. I anvmtowlf Edwar-li ELElricE. 'Rjn flammaf ,irnj srnr'rns Arnr EDWARD o. Baron AND RICHARD N.

XHUDSON, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY.

This invention relates to apparatus forgenerating electricity and has for its object to apparatus of this kind by chemical means, provide an improved to be used for light and power purposes, and by means of which.-

greatefiiciency, as well as economy, is ob tained.

One object of the invention is to provide' an improved apparatus meansof which the creased and greater tained, both in voltage and amperage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this kind, by means of which the life of the apparatus is prolonged with a sinall loss of active material. a

Another, object of the invention is to reand increase of this kind by chemical action is inthe'efliciencyof the apparatus. V

. Another object of the invention'is to provide an improved apparatus of this kind that by increasing or decreasing its size and the density of thematerial employed in the porous cup's a uniform flow of current can beobtained fora definite period without requiring attention or a renewal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new composition'of matter which is employed Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic conductor located within the exciting fluid contained in the porous cup be decom- IS the case posed in enerating electricity, as

,in other 'ornis of batteries.

'In batteries now in use, the zinc-electropositive element is used both for generating the current and as aconductor, and as the zinc is 'dissolved,- its proportionately Hence, from the "beginning of the the power is con tinu-' ii the battery is "ex- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 29, 1910. Serial No.

electric power is ob Patented Apr. 18, 31911. 552,156. i

' hausted. In the apparatus hereinafter de scribed, the conductor is protected from the action of the fluid in the porous cup by keep- I iiig the conductor at all times heavily amali gainated with mercury, and therefore is used only as a conductor and not as active agent, the amalgamated zinc fragments alone being decomposed and employed to produce the current. v

Referring to the accompanying drawings,1there is shown in vertical sectionan electrical apparatus constructed inaccordance with this invention;

In carrying out the invention there is employed a jar l, of vitreous material, in the bottom of which rests a ring 2, of vitreous material having its upper andlower edges formed with openings, 3, the outer side of the ring 2being slightlyspaced from the inner side of the jar 1'. An outer porous cup,

4, rests on'a curved shoulder, 5', of the upper edge of the ring 2. The carbon conductor,

and flange, 7, whicl'rrests on the theporous cup 4;, and also shouldered portion, 8, of the rests on the top of the jar 1. the carbon conductor 6, which of a cup or cylinder, is a thin porous cup, 9, the carbon conductor 6 being slightly spacedfrom the'inzier'wall of the porous cup 4, and theinner porous cup 9. The porous cup 9 is seated within the carbon conductor, 6, and hasits upper and formed with an outwardly upper edge of as an electrolyte in the apparatus.

power of generating and" conducting electricity is reduced.

action of the'hatter ally decreasing out corresponding per end of the seated within the upper end of the porous cup 9 at the lower end of the flaring portion 10 thereof, is a removable cover, 11,.hav1ng a perforated knob or handle, 12,

Located within the thin gno'rous cup 9 1s a large metallic conductor y shaped portionoof the up- I portion, 13, which rests on the bottom of the thin orous cup 9 and nearly its to the annular gutter, 14, from which exten s" vertically the tapering main body portion, 15, of the conductor, a. .d then pro gects u ward from the main body portion 15 wit the diminishing cone-shaped portion, 16, from which by means of a. flange 7 ,which Seated Within is in the form flaring portion, 10, which is seated in the,

orm'ed with 'the' enlarged frusto-oonica'l base extends in turn the 6, which is inthe shape of a cup or cylinder, is suspended within the outer porous'cup 4, is supported 'by means of a curved" carbon conductor 6. Tightly covers the same and as on 2 esejsee 5 inclosed by a thimble 19 of hard rubber.

Secured in any suitable manner to the cup or thimble 18 and extending through the rubber thimble 19 and through an insulated Y coating, 20, are a number oflead wires, 21,

'10 which may be four in number or less. The

- thin porous cup 9 is filled with metallic fragments, 22, composed of amalgamated zincand mercury, which surrounds the metallic conductor. The line a :'m extending across the apparatus indicates the height of the electrolyte in the jar 1, porous cup 4, carbon conductor 6, and wall of porous cup "9. The arrows indicate the course the fluid takes in its flow to porous cup 9. The

" :20 line yy indicates the height of the water in the porous'cup 9'. t Mounted in the top of the carbonconductor '6 are carbon connecting plugs, 23, there being four' of such plugs, or a less number may be used. The carbon plugs 23 are preferably secured to the carbon conductor 6 by being inserted in socl'gets in the flange 7 thereon. These carbon-connecting plugs are necessary, as a metal connection will corrode from the action of the acid vapor rising when the apparatus is in action. An insulated copper or nected to the carbon pin 23 by means of an anchor 25 embedded in plug 23 before baking. As indicated by the arrows, the flow ofthe electrolyte iscarriedthrough the walls of the porous cup 9 by the force of gravity, intensified by the electric current to the water.

40" In carrying outthis inventionpthere' is employed as an electrolyte for the apparatus described a new composition of matter, which is used in jarl, porous cup 4, around carbonconductor 6 and porous cup 9, audit '45 is first placed in the bottom of jar 1. This 1 newcomposition of matter is produced as follows: Take 1360 grams of common salt sodium chlorid, '227 grams ofsulfuric acid,

' 66 degrees Baum, and mix until the mass hasicea'sed foaming, then add 227 grams of nitrie acid, (36 degrees Baum'x) We fur- I ther employ with the apparatus described '907 grams ofgamalga'mated zinc in fragmentaryform that is placed in porous cup 9 around I the conical metallic conductor therein, filling the cup'up to the cover. This amalgam is" formed as follows: Take 8 grams of Zinc in fragments, and 1 gram of mercury. Add to this 1 gram of muriatic lid-acid. Stir the mass until a complete amalgamation is formed. ,This amalgam may Sjalso be formed as follows: Take 4800 grams of distilled water; dissolve in this 240 grams -of'bi-chlorid of mercury; place in this bath 1 6. 3360 gramsiof'metallic zinc and let it rest ead wire, 24, is con for two hours. \Ve dd not limit ourselves-to theproportion stated herein, as more or less may be used with good results. v

The reactions that take place upon themixture of sodium chlorid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid are as follows: The sulfuric acid.

reacts with a certain amount of the sodium chlorid forming sodium sulfate and acid sodium sulfate, Na. ,SO,, and NaHSO,. The

addition of nitric acid after the sulfuric union between the nitric acid and the sodium sulfate and sodium chlorid; a mechanical union -whic h is desired is obtained, the nitric acid saturating the sodium salts and if the mixture is left at rest it will harden into crusty mass and can be broken up and used as desired. The sodium chlorid should be perfectly dry when used." It is well known that, when sulfuric acid is mixed 95, .Wltll a small amount of water, or a substance containing water in the form of molsture, great heat is generated. TlllS 18 to be avoided, the more heat generated 1n thprocess, the greater will be the decompo- 1 00 sition of the sodium chlorid, which is undesirable. When this mixture is placed in the cell-jar and water is added-in the pro ortion stated in the specification, a part 0 the sulfuric and allof the nitric acids which,

as above stated are mechanically mingled with the sodium salts, becomes active forming a compound acid solution that acts u onthe free sodium chlorid, evolving hy ro-' chloric acid (while the nitric acid acts as a depolarizing agent) this acld passes through the pores of the inner porous cup, uniting with the water'contained therein and is used as the exciting fluid upon the amalgamated fragments. There are no pcroxids ofnit-rogen evolved after the crystallized electrolyte has been placed in water. The reasons for the'use of this electrolyte in coiipcration with the apparatus areas follows let. A powerful depolarizing agent con- 0 taining'in combination the exciting fluid.

2d. The sodium chlorid being in excess maintains a dense saturated solution which is required in our apparatus, the fluid being required to be a high conducting power.

3d. It was found in practice that an electrolyte composed of nitric and n'iuriatic acids gave good results, but would be exhausted after 15 days continuous use. The new composition of matter givesbetter reuse for lighting and less as far as its acid nature is In setting up the apparatus, take 1814 I the outside.

I cordingly as thecup has and place will permit the the cup 9 suits and remains active as long as any of the sodium chlorid is undissolved in the jar.

4th. It was found that the shipment .of nitric and muriatic acids in carboys involved a high freight rate and that inexperienced persons would not handle these acids in charging the apparatus, the new composition being in crystallized" form taken at a lower rate, can, and is handled by inexperiencedpersons without danger.

5th. The apparatus is I power purposes, running sewing machines, etc., where women are usuall required to attend to same, and women wi 1 not handle radical acids, but will handle this new composition, as is harmconcerned.

grams of the new composition of matter, the matter in jar 1, and add 2268 grams of water, stirring the mass a short time. Place the vitreous ring 2 in the bottom of jar 1, settling it firmly, and by a little shaking the undissolved electrolyte ring to become seated on the bottom of jar 1. On the ring 2 place the outer porous cup 4, which will cause the fluid electrolyte to rise to the acid line ww, Place 454 grams of the filtered electrolyte in porous cup muriatic acid and let it remain until the acid flows through the wall showing moisture on Then pour the remaining acid out of the cup 9, which will be found to'have absorbed about 155 grams more or less acbeen burned hard or-soft. Then I in the porous cup 9, which may be made of either copper or zinc and which has its entire surface heavily amalgamated with mercury to protect it from corrosion from the acidsolution which is formed in the cup 9.

I The gutter 14 collects and holds the metallic mercury set free by the decomposition of the amzilgamatedjragments 22 which are used as a charge about the metallic conduc-' tor. 227 rams of water is then placed in I filling the same to the water lines 31-g The cover' 11 is then put in place with the projection :1 extending through the same. Theporous cup 9 containing the charge is placed in thejcarbon receptacle 6, which has been previously subjected to a bath of muriatic acid. It is necessary to have the pores of the carbon conductor 6 filled with acid beforeit is laced in the electrolyte, thus preventing the absorption of any sodium sulfate that-may beheld suspended in the electrolyte in the porous cup 4. The soda, ifany, is held suspended, and will be absorbed into carbon and reduce the conducting power of I the carbons. The carbon a the carbon conductor going into domestic 4. Fill the porous cup 9 with place the metallic conductor epores' of a dry.

carbon conductor 6 cbntaining the porous cup 9 is then placed in the outer porous cup 4, causing the fluid electrolyte to rise to the acid line 00-46. The carbon connecting plugs 23, are then inserted in their sockets in 6. The copper thimble 18 containing the lead-Wires-21 is placed on the projection 17 with the rubber covering 19 over thecop er thimble 18, and the apparatus is ready or use.- i

hen the apparatus'isset u and. the cir cuit is'closed, the reactions -t place areas follows: The acid in'the pores of the center porous cup 9 unites with the water, forming a weak acid solution," This at will take solution acts upon the amalgam starting thej current to flow, which increases the action of the diluted sulfuric acid on the chlorid of sodium, setting free hydrochloric acid, which flows by gravity, aided'by the current, through the wallsof the outer porous cup ,4, the fluid being filtered thereby and deliv ered free of all undissolved particles to the space between the inner walls of the porous cup dand the outer walls of the carbon receptacle 6. From this space the fluid is forced by gravity through the slot 26 in the carbon conductor 6 to the space between the inner walls of the carbon receptacle 6 and the outer wall of,.the cup 9. From this space the fluid flows by seepage through the walls of the porous cup 9 into the water contained therein, increasing the acidity, intensifying the action on the amalgamated fragments, and increasing'the current in amperes. This increase continues until the fluid in cup '9 has reached fluid contained in the jar 1 and the porous a level with the i cup 4. The current thereafter, both in volt:

age and amperage will remain stationary for 24: hours on a closed circuit, when the amperage will begin to fall. The copper thimble 18, with its lead wires 21, is then removed from the porous cup 9, which has been taken out of the carbon rece tacle 6, the top 11 having been removed rom the cup 9, and the exhausted fiuid poured off. f a great number of units of this apparatus are in use, the fluid can be saved and the chlorid of zinc recovered. The loss from the zinc fragments will be about 11 grams, which isreplaced and the cup filled to the water line ;z 1 with water. The loss of the fluid electrolyte in jar 1 will be about 180 grams. This is replaced by adding 135 grams of water, 22.5 grams of sulfuric acid, 22.5 grams nitric acid through'an opening. 27, in the flange 7 of the carbon conductor 6'. The porous cup 9 is placed back inthe apparatus as hereinbeforc described. The copper thimble 18 is placed on the projection 17 and the apparatus is again ready for use.

Itwill be understood that the above rencwal is necessary, provided the apparatus has been in constant use on a closed circuit this apparatus is built for for 48-hours. It is further understood that constant use and hard service, running motors of any size,

' Byv removing, I

composition and lighting houses. I he exhausted fluid in the hours. between the same, the deposit formation of incrustations equivalent of the new composition of matter, can be used in this apparatus. The new of. matter -is preferably employed, as it is .in solid form when handled and shipped. There is no danger in'handling it. Furthermore, it is more economical,

beingone-fourth the cost of the two acids moisture from the mentioned. It is found in .practice that the positive poleof the apparatus and accu mulates therein, and if the ordinary connections are used, the connecting bolt, washer, jam nut and wire, corrode, 1ncreasing the resistance and lowering the efficiency of the apparatus, said parts, having to be frequently dried and the metal con- When a plug cup 9 to nections removed and cleaned. The carbon connecting plugs 23 overcome this trouble. 23 has accumulated moisture and refuses to act, it can be removed and a new plug inserted in its place while the old plug is drying. The flared top 10 of the cup-9 serves to tightly wedge the cover 11 in place, and at the same time permits the be readily removed.

To renew the apparatus, the connecting plugs 23 and the copper thimble 18, with the lead wires 21, and the conducting wires 24, are removed. The carbon receptacle 6 containing the porous cup 9 is taken out of the porous cup 4:. The porous cup 4 is removed from the jar 1, and the exhausted fluid poured out. water, to remove the sediment that is formed on its surfaces. The cup 9 is taken out of the carbon receptacle 6 and also immersed in water to remove any salts that may adhere to its surfaces. .The exhausted electrolyte is poured out of jar 1. A charge of the new composition of matter is placed in jar 1, and water is added in the proportion heretofore specified. Porous cup 4: is charged with filtered electrolyte in the proportion heretofore set forth and returned to jar 1, resting on and being supported 2. The cover; 11 is then removed from the porous cup 9, the metallicv conductor carefully taken out, bringing with it the undecomposed 'zinc fragments, the conductor being retained in an upright position until the adhering fragments are removed; The

metallic mercury that has collected in the gutter 14 is then poured out and saved, and the porous cup 9 filled with water and set not longer electrolyte is drawn. to

' an unnecessary porous cup The cup 4 is immersed 1n by the ring xaside. The metallic conductor isplaced in another. cup

that has previously absorbed. muriatic acid or filtered electrolyte. The amalgamated zinc fragments are added to fill thecup 9. The cup 9 is then filled with water to the line y-y, and the cover 11,is replaced. The cup9ucontainin'g the-completed charge is replaced in the carbon receptacle 6. If it is a' new carbon,.it is first placed in-abath of nitric acid to fill the pores, and will absorb about 250 grams, otherwise the electrolyte carryinga salt, will after the change is made, the salt will crystallize inthe pores, reducing the conducting power of the carbon. I Carbons that have once been used and not allowed to dry need not be so treated. Both the cup 9 andthe porous cup 4-, which has previously been placed in the jar 1. The carbon plugs 23 and the copper thimble 18 are placed in po sition, and the apparatus is ready for use.

It is necessary to at all times maintain a strong, filtered solution of the electrolyte,

'free of all foreign undissolved matter,

around the carbon conductor 6 and the outer wall of the porous cup 9 in order to maintain a high ampere current. This is accomplished by charging the apparatus with more of the newcomposition than the water will dissolve.

holds this excess, while a .weaker solution is required in the porous cup 9, which surrounds the amalgamated metals to prevent local action. If the solution in the cup 9 had the same density as that contained in the jar 1 and porous cup 4, there would be waste of metals. necessity of changing the fluid in the cup 9 oftener than the fluid in the, jar 1 and the 4, which than once in two months when provided that a solution composed of water 135 grains, sulfuric acid 32.5 grams, and nitric acid 22.5 grams, be added through the opening 27 in the flange 7 of carbon conductor 6. To maintain the height of this fluid at' the acid line a2a:,

changed more 1n constant use,

this addition should be madeat the same time that water is added tothe porous cup 9, as hereinbefore set forth.

By means of this apparatus, constructed and arranged as herein set forth, a new and improved powerful cell is provided with, great. efiiciency to run, when the-units are connected inseries, all sizes of low voltage motors, and for lighting houses.

If nitric and muriatic acid, are used, the

porous cup 4, may be omitted, as these acids I areusually free from all foreign undissolved matter.

The space within the ring 2- Hence the enter the pores of the carbon, and drying I carbon receptacle 6. are then placed in the fluid need not be It will be understood that'the fluid electro- I free of all undissolved matter, can be lyte,

in the 'main ar 1 without the porousused cup 4 and the ring 2, the ring 2 being used only as a supporter which the porous cup 4 rests. The cup 4 is only used asa filter.

Having described the invention, we claim as follows:

'In anapparatus of the character described, -a jar, an apertured supportresting on the bottom ofsaid jar and spaced from the sides thereof, an outer porous cup resting on the top of said apertured sufaport, a carbon conductor receptacle suspended with.-

} insaid porous cup and resting on the top of .coplel at this gatent may so obtained tor the same; and on-the top' of the jar, a thin porous cup suspended within said carbon reflveeents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

ceptacle, a detachable cover closing the ,15

of said cup, and leading wires detac11a'b1y 20 connected with said progection; v

'In testimony whereof We hereunto affix' our signatures in presence of two Wit-IIGSSGS.-

EDWARD C. BEIGE:

. RICHARD N. HUDSON.

Witnesses:

Jnssn G. Hnoson, 'LIARSHALL FOLEY.

Commissioner of Patents, 

